Presser mechanisms for sewing machines



Jan 27, 1959 A. J. MATUzAs PREssER MECHANIsMs FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Sept. 9, 1955 ,IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIII A l E 7//17/1//4//4l I" Y NVENTOR. nlwny JMu/zas BY WyiATTORNEY nited States Patent @tice PRESSER MECHANISMS FOR SEWING `MACHINES Anthony J. Matuzas, Union, N. J., assigner to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. E., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 9, 1955, Serial'No. 533,483

6` Claims. (Cl. 112-236) The present invention relates to presser mechanisms for sewing machines andmore particularly to a so-called quick-release vdevice fora sewing machine presser mechanism, i. e., a device by'means of which the force bia-sing the presser-bar toward the work-supporting surface may be conveniently released to permit work such as darning, which does not require a feeding of the work and therefore does not require. a strong presser action,

or may be conveniently restored for normal sewing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a quick-release device fora sewing machine presser mechanism that is economical in that it is made of fewer parts-each of which 4can be readily manufactured, and at the'same time, is easy to-foperate and is durable and dependable-in operation. Further objects of this invention are to provide a presser mechanism quick-release struction and advantages of` it when readin conjunction a with the accompanying drawings iniwhich:

Fig. 1 isa headand elevation View, partly in section, of ay sewing machine embodyingthe present invention.

Fig; 2 isa detail sectional viewtaken substantially on the line. Z-Z-of Fig; `l.

Fig. 3 is a=detail :sectional view taken substantially on the. line 3 3 of Fig.. 2.

Fig. 4- isv afragmentary detail sectional view taken l substantially onthe-line 4-4of Fig. 2.

With reference to the-drawings, the present invention is illustrated iasembodied-in'a sewing machine having a frame including aibed 1a having a throat plate 2k and a head 3 overhanging the bed. The presser mechanism, which is. designed to press'the work downwardly against the throat plate'Z and feed-dogs 4, comprises a presserbar 5 mounted vertically for longitudinal sliding. movement in the 'head' 3by 4mea'nsofV a bearing bore 6. in the lower portion'of'the'head''and' a vertically adjustable sleeve 7 in the upper portion of the head into which the upper end of the presser-bar telescopes. A presser-foot 8 is carried at the lower end of the presser-bar 5. To bias the presser-bar 5 downwardly, a presser-bar spring 9 is coiled about the same and is compressed between the lower end of the sleeve 7 and a collar 1i) which is secured to the presser-bar by a set screw 11. The collar 1i! carries a rearwardly directed guide arm 12 that overhangs the presser-lifter lever 13 and works in the usual slot in the head to prevent the presser-bar from turnlng.

The sleeve 7 is mounted for axial sliding movement in a bushing 14 that is externally threaded and screwed into a threaded bore 15 in the top of the head 3. At its 2,870,726 Patented Jan. 27, 1959 upper end, the bushing'14 is enlarged to provide a head 16 and to tighten the bushing in the bore 15, the lower portion of the head 16 is provided with ats 17 that are designed to receive a wrench. A Hat substantially U- shaped radially-collapsing latch spring 18 is disposed on the upper face of the head 16 about the sleeve 7, the spring 18 being kformed normally to embrace the periphery of the sleeve `7,. One end of the spring 18 is anchored by means offa pin 19 varranged parallel to the axis of the bushing and extending downwardly through an aperture 20 in the spring into the head 16.y The opposite end of the spring 1 8 is provided with an aperture 21 that receives a pin comprising the smooth-surfaced end 22`of a set screw 23 arranged parallel to the axis of the bushing 14 and threaded through the top of a cap 2li. The cap 24 isthreaded internally and screwed down looselyfupon the head 16 of the bushing 14'so that it is free to turnto a limited extent.

With the parts thus-arranged, the spring 18 is normally in engagement with the periphery of the sleeve 7. When the cap 24 is manually rotated in the direction of the arrow A, Fig; 2, the movement of the pin 22 will open the spring18'or move it away from the periphery of the sleeve 7 to release the same. When the cap 24 is released, the spring 18 will move'back into contact with the periphery of the sleeve 7 and at the same'time, the cap 24 will'be rotated by the spring into its originalposition.

The peripheral surface of the sleeve 7 is provided with serrations in the form of circumferential grooves 25 which at the top have latch faces normal to the axis of the sleeve, and at the bottom have cam faces arranged at an angle inclined to the axis of the sleeve. As the sleeve '7 is urged upwardly by the action of the presserbar spring 9, the latchspringl 18 will engage against the latchfaces to hold the-sleeve 7 against rising and thus` hold the spring 9 under compression. When the latch spring 18 is released by rotation of the cap 24, the sleeve 7 isfree to rise underA the action'of'the spring 9 to its maximum position. The cam faces of the grooves 25 in the sleeve 7 will act to openthe latch spring 18 so that the sleevev 7 is free to be depressed to any desired position. At its upper end the sleeve 7 is provided with a head 26. and at its lower end is` provided with a groove in which `is seated a retaining ring 27 that limits the motion of sleeve 7 relative to the bushing 14.

To assemble'the device, the cap 24 is screwed down several turns on the head 16, and While it is still free to be turned, the aperture in the top thereof for receiving the screw 23-is aligned with the aperture 21 in the spring 18. Theset screw 23 is then screwed down with its smooth end 22 extendingv through the aperture 21. The cap` 24 is thus lockedagainst withdrawal from the head 16 but it is free to be turned to release the spring 18 from the sleeve 7. When thus assembled, the sleeve 7 is inserted through,` the; bushing 14' and the retaining ring 27 is snapped in position.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of my invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

l. A quick-release device for the pressure mechanism of a sewing machine comprising a bushing adapted to be secured in the head of a sewing machine and having a bore, a sleeve mounted for axial sliding movement in the bore of said bushing and having serrations in the peripheral surface thereof, a substantially U-shaped radially-collapsing spring mounted upon the end of said bushing about said sleeve, means for anchoring one end of said spring in said bushing, Va cap mounted for turning on the end of said bushing adjacent to said spring, and means for securing the other end of said spring to said cap, said spring being normally collapsed into engagement with the peripheral surface of said sleeve to cooperate with said serrations to lock said sleeve against sliding movement in one `direction relative to said bushing, whereby when said cap is turned, said spring will be expanded to release said sleeve for sliding movement.

v 2. A quick-release device for the pressure mechanism of a sewing machine comprising a bushing adapted to be secured in the head of a sewing machine and having a bore, a sleeve mounted for axial sliding movement in the bore of said bushing, Yreleasab'le latch means carried by said bushing and cooperating with the peripheral surface of said sleeve to lock said sleeve against sliding movement in one direction relative to said bushing, threads upon the external surface ofsaid bushing adjacent to said latch means, an internally threaded caprloosely screwed onto said threads, and a removable pin secured in said cap and operatively connected to said latch means for releasing said latch means upon turning of said cap to unlock said sleeve for sliding movement relativeto said bushing.

3. A quick-release device for the presser mechanism of a sewing machine comprising a bushing adapted to be secured in the head of a sewing machine and having a bore, a sleeve mounted for axial sliding movement in` the bore of said bushing, a substantially U-shaped radially-collapsing spring mounted upon the end of said bushing, means for anchoring one end of said spring in said bushing, threads upon the external surface of said bushing adjacentto said latch means, an internally threaded cap screwed loosely onto said threads, a removable pin secured in said cap and operatively connected to the free end of said spring, said springbeing'normally collapsed into engagement with the peripheral surface of said sleeve to lock said sleeve against sliding movement in one direction relative to said bushing, whereby when said cap is turned, said spring will be expanded to release said sleeve for sliding movement.

'4. In a sewing machine having a frame including a head, a presser-bar mounted in said head for longitudinal sliding movement, a presser-bar spring coiled about said `presser-bar, a collar secured to said presser-bar and forming an abutment for one end of said spring, and an adjustable abutmentrfor the other lend of said spring comprising an externally threaded bushing screwed into `said head and having a bore, a sleeve mounted in the `bore of said bushing for axial sliding movement and havling a bore centrally thereof and serrations in the peripheral surface, means 'for limiting the sliding movement of said sleeve in said bushing, said presser-bar telescoping `into the end of the bore in said sleeve with the end of tsaid sleeve comprising an abutment for said spring, relleasable latch means carried by said bushing and cooperating with said serrations to permit free sliding movement of said sleeve toward said presser-bar thereby to compress said spring and to lock said sleeve against sliding movement away from said presser-bar, said latch means including a radially-collapsing latch spring normally biased to engage the peripheral surface of said sleeve, a cap turnably mounted lupon said bushing, means for conning said cap against axial displacement relative to said bushing, and an operative connection between saidcap and said latch means for expanding said latch spring upon turning of said cap to release said sleeve and permit free sliding movement of said sleeve under the action of said presser-bar spring.

5. In a sewing machine having a frame including a head, a presser-bar mounted in said head for longitudinal sliding movement, a presser-bar spring coiled about said presser-bar, a collar secured to said presser-bar and forming an abutment for one end of said spring, and an adjustable abutment for the other end of said spring comprising an externally threaded bushing screwed into said head and having a bore, a sleeve mounted in the bore of said bushing for axial sliding movement and having a bore centrally thereof and serrations in the peripheral surface, means for limiting the sliding movement of said sleeve in said bushing, said presser-bar telescoping into the end of the bore in said sleeve with said spring abutting against the end of said sleeve, releasable latch means carried by said bushing and cooperating with said serrations to permit free sliding movementvof said sleeve toward said presser-bar thereby to compress said spring and to lockrsaid sleeve against sliding movement away from said presser-bar, said latch means including a latch spring Vand being normally biased to engage the peripheral surface of said sleeve, a cap turnably mounted upon said bushing, means for confining said cap against axial displacement relative to said bushing, and a pin comprising a screw arranged with its axis parallel to the axis of said bushing and threaded through said cap and operatively connecting said cap to said latch means for releasing saidlatch means against the action of said latch spring upon turning of said cap to permit free sliding movement of said sleeve under the action of said presser-bar spring. 6. A quick-release device for the presser mechanism lof a sewing machine comprising a bushing adapted to be secured in the head of a sewing machine and having a bore, an element mounted for axial sliding movement in the bore of said bushing, ausubstantially U-shaped radially-collapsing spring disposed about said element, means for anchoring one end of said spring to said bushing, and means at the other end of said spring to provide fornlanually expanding said spring, said spring being normally collapsed linto engagement with the peripheral surface of said element to lock said element against sliding movement in one direction relative to said bushing and, when said spring is expanded, said element is released for sliding movement relative to said bushing.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

